Mountain biker flown out of American River Canyon

Michael Kirby/Auburn JournalRex Maynard, 68, of Auburn, was flown out of the American River Canyon Monday afternoon after a mountain bike accident.

An Auburn man was flown via helicopter out of the American River Canyon Monday when he fell over the side of a trail on his mountain bike.

Rex Maynard, 68, was riding his mountain bike with a friend on the Lake Clementine Trail near the Foresthill Bridge when he lost control, left the trail on the right side and tumbled 70 feet down a rocky hill, according to Supervising Ranger Scott Liske with the Auburn State Recreation Area. The accident happened around 2 p.m.

As of Monday immediately following the rescue Liske could only say that Maynard suffered lacerations to the head due to the accident.

"After looking at the rock field he's very lucky he was wearing a helmet because it probably saved his life," Liske said.

Becky Morris, Maynard's wife, said her husband is an avid mountain biker and that "he would never get on a bike without a helmet." Morris also said Maynard has ridden the Lake Clementine Trail extensively and that he never lost consciousness after the accident.

"He's 68 going on 12 as far as his activity level is concerned," Morris said.

Maynard has also finished the Western States Trail Run multiple times and rode in the Coolest 24 Mountain Bike Race recently in Soda Springs.

Maynard was flown out via a California Highway Patrol helicopter, which landed on the Old Foresthill Road Bridge so he could be evaluated before being flown to Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

Liske said it was safer for Maynard and fire and rescue personnel to use a hoist technique on Monday because creating a rope system to get him out would have taken longer due to the steepness of the terrain.

"It's very simple for them to perform a hoist. The patient is put on a backboard and secured into a bag and when they land on the bridge he'll be evaluated to see if he needs to be transported by air or ground," Liske said.

Jon Hartman was mountain biking with Maynard when the accident happened. Hartman didn't see his friend go over the hill because he was behind him and around a corner, but was able to spot Maynard down the hill by his white bike helmet.

"He's been riding for years. This is a fluke thing that's out of context for him," Hartman said. "Unfortunately, with mountain biking, there's always those days when you're going to crash."